City scientists laud India's maiden success in reaching Mars

Kolkata, Sep 24: Leading scientists of the city lauded the country's successful attempt in placing its low-cost Mars spacecraft in orbit around the Red Planet by ISRO today.

"The successful Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM) today proved India's ability in space science as it is the only country in the world to do this in the first attempt", former director of Saha Institute Nuclear Physics (SINP) and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) Bikash Sinha told PTI.

He said "From the scientific point of view, this is very interesting. India's space technology is as good as other developed countries which is also cost effective".

However, Sinha said India was not very quick on engaging in space applications unlike other countries. India was the fourth country in the world to sent mission to Mars after European Union, US and Russia and became a part of this elite club, Sinha said.

"Twenty years from now, India will have a major share in the colonisation of space which has far reaching consequences", he said. Director (science and research) of M P Birla Planetarium D P Duari said the successful orbit insertion of 'Mangalyaan' proved the scientific and technological prowess of India to world community.

"Given the budget and time-frame of the project, it is not only a stupendous success and also an improbable achievement in the eyes of the world scientific community. "Soon after the successful launch, NASA and China had extended their hands for future collaboration in space related matters," Duari said.

"This will also usher in an era of enhanced developmental activity in space science catalysed by ISRO", he added.